Dreams for Kids!

We volunteered at the annual Dreams for Kids DC Holiday Celebration at McKinley Technology High School in Northeast.

Throughout the year, DFKDC holds adaptive clinics for its special needs children—anything from water-skiing to football—but this event is a special one not only for the volunteers, participants and their families; moreover, it's a way for the children with disabilities to give back to others who are less fortunate. We snapped volunteers Nick Crus, Alexis Lete and Kathryn Rivera. 

 At the holiday event, the guests rally to support the most vulnerable among us—homeless children were provided with activities, such as wrapping presents, decorating stockings and creating decadent desserts to be donated to local shelters. The goal of this event is to show the children that their disability does not hold them back from performing their own philanthropy. Volunteers Angela Devierno, Liz Bond and Matt Bembenek.  

Exceptional volunteers and board members who exceed the extraordinary were presented with awards. Rich DiPietro was presented with the Volunteer of the Year award, flanked here by executive director Glenda Fu (center) and board members Cradle Systems' Kiel Chesley, Bureau of Land Management Kevin Chesley and sponsor Coca-Cola's Chloe Stewart. (Bottom Row) Software AG's Allison Gershon, Madison Government Solutions' Rachel Merritt and ATTAIN LLC's Attie Poirier. 

The guests had a blast, treated with food, music, face painting, crafts, sports and more. These activities give the children a sense of camaraderie, and show we are all alike more than we are different. We snapped Dreams for Kids DC children with volunteer Miori.